Press-box.



W. l. FITZGERALD.

PRESS BOX.

APPLICATION man oec. x2'. |917.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHED l.

W. l. FITZGERALD.

PRESS BOX.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC, l2. \9l7 Patented Oot. 29, 1918;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. J. FITZGERALD..

atented Oat. 29, 1918..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WlLLmM J. FlTrzqERHLD W. l. FITZGERALD.

' PRESS BOX.

`APPucATmx FILED DEC. 12, 1917 1,282,795. Patented om.. 29, 191s..

4 SHEETS--SHEET 4.

. r @51g u! invir sfrarns Igrandir einen.

WILLIAM J. FITZGERALD, 'or sr.` Louis, nissoimi.

` Appiication ined December i2, i917.

To all whom, may Concern.' j

Be it known that l, WILLIAM J. FITZ* chiami), a citizenotl the United States, residing at StLouis, in thecounty of St. Louis City and State of Missouri, have in.

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Press-Boxes, oit-which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.` i

This invention relates to an improved press box and `has for its primary object to provide certain improvements in an apparatus of that character shown and de- `scribed in my prior Patent No. 1,259,843

issued March 19, 1918, whereby the device may beoperated with great ease and facility,

land the resistance of' the several structural parts of the box to outward pressure materially increased. o j.

lt is another important object of Vthe iiivention to provide an improved mounting and arrangement ot the vertical sliding doors or gates to be actuated by the presser head as the material is compressed within the box. l

The invention also liasf'or a further object to provide certain improvements1 in the mounting and ariangeinent.,ofthe separators or partitions .within the press box whereby the water is separated `from the compressedmaterial and discharged, one of the` Fig. 2 isa top plan view, showing the` doors of the upper box section `swung to their open positions.; i Y

F 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 3 of Figxl; Fig. 4f is a horizontal section taken on the line 1 -l ot Fig. 3; i f

`F 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. a; i Y

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary horii Specification of Letters Patent.

Panssiaox.

patenten oet. es, ieis.

Serial No. 205,808.

zontal section showing the fastening means for the `tie straps and the swinging doors of thebox sections in their closed position; and

F ig. 7 is an enlarged detail" plan view showing the pivotal connections between the flanges on the box walls.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates the base of the press box which is in the form of a shallow rectangular pan having upstanding flanges G on three of its edges, the flange beingY omitted from the otherinarginal edge of the pan, for a reason which will hereinafter become apparent.

The body ot the Vpress box consists of two sections, as in the original construction shown in the patent above referred to. 7 designates the three vertical walls of the lower box section, each oi these walls be- .ing proovided upon its lower end with a laterally disposed outwardly projecting flange 8 for engagement against the inner face of' one of the upstanding flanges 6 on the base pan 5. Said walls are likewise provided upon their upper ends with similar outwardly projecting flanges 9. The other wall ot the lower box section and the corresponding wall of the upper box section con sists of two doors 10, said doors being also provided upon their lower and upper edges -with the laterally projecting flanges 11 and 12 respectively.y `These door flanges at one of their ends are apertured to receive hinge pintles 13 which extend through coinciding d apertures in the ends oit the upper and lower l flanges on opposed body walls on each box section. `To the inner tace of each of `the doors adjacent. to its hinged end, a vertically extendingangular bar 14 is riveted or otherwise permanently secured. The inwardly projecting flanges of these angular bars are adapted for abutting engagement against the inner faces of the adjacent side walls whenthe doors are closed, thereby effectually preventing the escape of water at the hinged ends of the doors.-

Spaced. metal straps 15 extend horizontally across the outer face of the doors V when the latter are closed, and each of these straps is centrally provided 'with a rectangular offset portion 16 to accommodate the vertically disposed bar or cleat 17 which is secured to the tree edge of one of the 'doors fl() and laps upon the opposed edge of the other door when said doors are closed.

These metal straps 15are hingedly connected at one of their ends as at 18 to the ends of the metal straps 19 extending across the outer face of' one of the body walls of the box section. These latter straps also have medial outwardly oifsetportions 20 the purpose of which will be presently stated. To the other ends of the straps 19, metal straps 21 are connected bythe pintles 22, said straps extending across the outer side of one'of' the other `walls and straps 23 corresponding to "the straps 19 and having similar medial 'offset portions which are hingedly connected to the other ends ofthe straps 21 by means of pintles 24. The other end of each metal strap 23 terminates in a cylindrical threaded shank or extension `25 for engagement through an opening in the end of one of the straps 15 extendingracross the doors 10.` Nuts 26 are engaged upon the shank 25 and `by tightening these nuts against the straps 15, it will be readily seen that the'tie straps which `extend around the several walls of' the box structure may be drawn into tight frictional engagement therewith to hold said 4walls in their erect positions. The other or upper box section consists ofthe four vertical walls 27 flanged at their upper and lower edges inthe same manner as the walls of the lower box section as shown at 28. In order to reinforce and stiflien these lateral flanges on theseveral box walls, the metal bands shown at 29 are riveted or otherwise fixed thereto. The flanges 28 of the upper box .walls are hingedly connected to each other in `the same manner as the flanges on the lower box wall sections by means of the pins-indicated at 30. Detachably connected metal straps 31 likewise extend around the walls 27 on the outer sides thereof and are connected and held in their assembled positions on the box walls by a fastening or clamping means similar to that above described.

The opposite walls 27 ofthe upper box section corresponding tothe lower walls 7 with which the metal straps 19 are engaged, have their central portions eut away at 32., said openings also extending through the flanges 28 on the upper edges of said walls. The metal straps`31 engage against the outer -face of this wall 27 are permanently secured to said wall by rivets or other suitable means, and these metal straps do not extend entirely across'the wall .27, Vbut each comprises two strap Sections,theA inner ends of 'which are' fixed tovertically disposed channeled members or guides 39. The open sides of these guides are opposed to the walls 27 and receive the flanges or keys 34 on the vertical edges of the door or gates 35. In this manner, `outward displacement ofthe door by the pressure of the material against the same is more effectively prevented and spreading or `separation ofthe sectionsof tween thepartitions and thebars 4l i.

` flangewill pass yfreely between the channels or guides 39. The flange 28 o-n the lower edgeof'the wall 27 and the Vreinforcing band 28, secured to said flange are recessed as shown-at 38 to accommodate the flange 39 on theupperedge of the door or gate when said door is in -its lowered position.

Removable tie straps shown at .l1 may alsobe-positioned across the top of the upper box section, said straps Vhaving angularly disposed `ends 42 to extend downwardly vover the flangesaS on the opposed walls 27. The several walls of the upper and lower box sections may be constructed of imper- Vforate sheet steel or other metal of'requisite thickness towithstand a pressure of approxiinatelyfour thousand pounds to the square inch. These walls may however be of slatted construction and covered with screening or other reticulated material7 as referred to in my pending application.

Upon thebase pan 5, a removable pan 43 is arranged. This pan may be readily removed for the purpose of cleaning the saine by swinging the doors 1() outwardly to their open positions, it being understood that these doors are opposed to the edge of the base pan 5 `which is notprovided with upstanding flange 6. In the lower section ofthe press box, a series of partitions or separators are arranged, 5 such partitions being herein illustrated. Flach of these partitions consists of a plurality of spaced bars or uprights {Jillpreferably of metal bent into the form shown, the end portions of said Vbars converging slidably to the lower end of the partition. To the outer sides of these spaced bars ill, a plurality of parallel horizontally extending slats 415 are secured. 4Upon jthe inner faces of the opposed wall 7 of the lower box section, spaced .'ertically disposed bars LG are securerh said bars taperyingto their lower ends and being initered at their .upper ends and connected to a hori zontal bar 47. Upon the inner of thesevertical bars 118, spaced slats 48 are secured. Tie rods l-S) extend transversely through the series ,of s'eparatorsor partitions and have their ends suitably fixed in the bars 'll `Spacing sleeves 50 are engaged upon these. rods between the several partitions and be Additional spacing sleeves 51 are also engaged "uponthe tierods betweenthe opposed portions of the bars 44.0f the several partitions. The partitions extend across substantially the entire `width of the pan 43 between the doors 10 and the opposite wall 7 of the lower box section. The slats`48 H of `the frame-secured to the inner faces of the walls their ends in spacedv` relation tothe doors 10 so as to permit of` 7 terminate at .one of the closing of` theflanges 14 carried by the doors against the vertical wall 7. Through certain of the separators or partitions roc s 52 extend, said rods being disposed at right angles to the rods 49 and having their ends extending through openings in the doors 10 and in the opposed walls section. VSuitable washers and nuts indicated at 53 are threaded upon the ends of these rods. These tie rods provide additional means for holdingthe doors in closed position and relieve the exterior tie straps of .excessive strains.

The slats 45 ofthe several separators and the slats 48 on the wall 7, arel exteriorly covered with a wire mesh fabric as shown at 54, which may be secured to the preferred manner and is `preferably secured to the lower end edges of the bars 44 and 4 6. The pan 43 is provided immediately beneath the transverse center of each of the separators with a vplurailty of spaced drainage openings 55, and the base 5 has a similar series of openings 56therein with which the openings register and through which the water is finally discharged.

57 Vdesignates a presser head which is in Y the form of a lat metal plate. To theV under side of this plate 57,v spaced separators 58 are vertically riveted. nach of these separators consists of a solid sheet steel plate bent intoV substantiallyUshaped form in cross section. In these channel shaped separators at intervals, metal bracing elements 59 are arranged, andare rivetly fixed in position by 'pecans ofthe bolts 60 extending longitudinally through said braces and through the plate 57. vThis plate 57 is adapted to be engaged and forced downwardly by the plunger 6l which is actuated hydraulically, or by any other suitable pre."- sure producing means. This plunger is provided at opposite sidesrwith thelaterally projecting arms 62.

' Having above described the construction and arrangement of the several parts of my invention, the-operation thereof will be understood as follows. The upper and lower sections of the box are first set up withitheir several walls connected inthe manner shown in Fig. l ofthe drawings, the pan# 43 inserted beneath the several partitions or separators, andthe doors 10 then closed and securely held by means of the tie straps and the rods 52. The tanlzage or other material from which it is desired to express the liquid, Visthen placed within therbox-secbelow 7rof the lower box slats in Vany tions, .it being understood that the plate 57 is arranged upon the top of this material and within the upper end of the upper box section. The plunger 61 is then operated to exert a downward pressure upon the plate 57, forcing this plate downwardly between the walls 27 ofthe upperbox section. The arms 62 on the plunger are engaged upon theflanged upper edges of the sliding doors or gates 35 and the latter will be forced downwardly as the compressing of the material progresses. rThe lower face of the plunger head, it will be noted, is disposed the plane of the arms 62 se that the material can never escape through the openings 32 over the upper'edges of the doors 35. In the movement ofthe doors or gates downwardly upon the outer faces of the box walls 7, the doors pass through the offset central portions 20 ofthe metal straps 19 which are secured upon said walls. In this downward movement of the plate 57 the water or other liquid is expressed from the material, the separators 58 on said plate cntering between the upper ends of the several separators or partitions arranged in the lower box section until. the doors or gates are finally forced downwardly to their lower positions seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The water or other liquid seeps through the reticulated coverings of the several partitions in the lower box section and of the slatted frames on the walls, 7, and flows downwardly and finally escapes through the registered openings 55 and 56. The partitions or separators act to cause a further compression of the material in lateral directions, so that all of the water will be ex pressed fromthematerial. This saturated material is finally compressed to about 55% of its original bulk and after this compressing operation, the material is practically dry. Digestedtankage treated in this manner may be advantageously utilized as a fertilizing material. It will be underw stood however that my invention can also be employed for expressing `water or other `liquids from various other materials. By means of the present construction, access may be easily and quickly had to the interior of the lower box sectionby simply disconnecting the lower series of straps extending around the wall 7 and opening the doors l0. rllhe pan 43 can then be readily pulled outwardly from beneath the separators or partitions and said partitions and all interior surfaces canjalso be vquickly and thoroughly cleaned; i 1

Having .A thus fully descri bed tion, what l claim and desire to Letters, Patent is l. A press box including body walls ceriny invensecure by tain of which are provided with open- A vertically ings slidably mounted between the outer ii'aces of the wallsand the tie straps engaged i therewith.

2. A `press .box including body walls cer- .tain of which .are provided with openings, vertically movable doors for said openings slidably engaged upon the outer faces of the body walls, and means for retaining the walls in assembled relation, also constituting guides for said doors.

3. A press box including body walls certain of which are provided with openings, movable doors for said openings slidably engaged upon the outer faces of the `body walls, and removable means engaged with the outer Yfaces of the body walls and resisting outward pressure against the same, said means constituting guides for the doors.

4t. A press box including body walls certain of which are provided with openings, doors for said openings slidably mounted upon the outer faces of the body walls, channel-shaped guides iixed to the outer faces ot' said walls, and iianges on the vertical edges ot the doors trictionally engaged in said guides.

5. A press box including body walls certain of which are provided with openings, doors for said openings slidably mounted upon the outer `faces of the body walls, channel-shaped guides fixed to the outer faces of said walls, flanges on the vertical edges of the doors frictionally engaged inl said guides, and additional guide means engaged in the outer faces of the body walls to receive the doors in their downward movement and resist outward pressure against said doors.

G. A press box including upper and lower box sections, opposed vertically slidable Vdoors on the upper box section, adapted to be engaged and moved downwardly by the press plunger inthe compression ot the material within the box, guides on the corresponding walls of the lower box section for said doors, and an additional door in one oli' the walls ,of the lower box section atording access to the interior of the box.,`

7. A press box including upper and lower box sections, removable tie straps extending around the walls of said box sections and holding the same in assembled relation, op posed vertically slidable doors movc ble between the box walls and the straps engaged and actuated by the press plunger in its downward movement within the box, and

an additional outwardly swinging door mounted in one of the walls of the box and held in closed position by certain of the tie straps, said latter door affording access to the interior of the box.

8. A press box including upper and lower box sections, `removable tie straps extending around the walls of said box sections and holding the samev in assembled relation, opposed vertically slidable doors movable betuting one of the body walls ,of

straps, said latter door alording access to .the interior of the box, and removable means connecting the latter door to the opposed wall of the box.

9. A press box including upper and lower box sections, removable tie straps extending around the walls of said box sections and holding the same in assembled relation, opposed vertically slidable doors movable be-` tween the box walls and the straps engaged and actuated by the press plunger-'in its .downwardmovement within the box, an additional outwardly swinging door mounted in one ofthe walls of the box and held in closed position by certain of the tie straps, said latter door allording access to the interior of the box, and removable tie rods connecting the latter door to the opposed wall oi' the box.

10. A press box including a base and body walls on the marginal edges of said base, spaced separators arranged within the box, a water drainage pan disposed upon the base beneath said separators, rods connecting the opposed side walls ot the box, spaeing means between the separators engaged upon said rods, and outwardly swinging doors mounted in one of the box walls to ailord access to the interior of the box and permit of the removal of said pan.

l1. A press box including a base, body walls disposedupon the marginal edges ,of said base, tie straps extending around said walls and holding the walls in assembled relation, spaced separator frames' arranged within the box, a separator frame secured to the inner face of the opposed body walls ot the box, a retieulated material covering each of said frames, said base beine provided with a series of openings t erein beneath each of the iframes, and a pan arranged beneath said frames and also having water drainage openings coinciding with the openings in said base.

12. A'press box including abase, body walls disposed upon the marginal edges ot said base, tie straps extending around said walls and holding the walls in assembled relation, spaced 'separator ramesarranged within the box,a separator trame secured to the inner tace of the opposed body walls of the box, a retieulated material covering Veach of said frames, said base being provided with a series of openings therein beneath each of the frames, a pan arranged beneathV said frames and also having water drainage openings coinciding with the openings in said base, outwardlyswinging doors constithe box, said walls and holding the walls in assembled doors being held in closed position by the tie straps and affording access to the interior of the box whereby said pan may be laterally withdrawn from beneath the'separator.

13. A press box including-a base, body walls disposed upon the marginal edges of said base, tie straps extending around said relation, spaced separator within the box, a separator frame secured to the inner face of the opposed body walls of the box, a reticulated material covering each of said frames, said base being provided with a series of openings therein beneath each of the frames, a pan arranged beneath said frames and also having water drainage openings coinciding with the openings in said base, outwardly swingingdoors constituting one of the body walls of the box, said doors being held in closed position by the tie straps and affording access to the interior of the box be laterally withdrawn from beneath the separator, and removable tie rods extending through certain of the separator frames and connecting said swinging doors to the opposed body wall of the box.

14. A press box including a rectangular base having upstanding iianges on three of its edges, body walls mounted uponthe base within said flanges, awater drainage pan disposed upon the base4 between said body walls and outwardly swinging doors disposed above the other marginal edge of the base and hingedly connected to theopposed body walls, said doors affording access to the interior of the box` to'permit of the removal of the drainage pan in a lateral `direction frames arranged from the base.

15. A press `box including a rectangular base having upstanding flanges on three of its edges, body walls mounted upon the base within said flanges, a water drainage pan disposedupon the base between said bodyd wallsand outwardly swinging doors disposed above the other marginaly edgeof the. base and hingedly connected to the opposed body walls, said doors affording access to the interior of the box to permit of the removal of the drainage pan in a lateral direction from the base, removable tie straps surrounding the body walls to hold the same in assembled position and extending across the doors to hold the latter in their closed positions against Voutward pressure of the material thereon.

16.- A press box including a rectangular base 'having upstanding flanges on three of its edges, body walls mounted upon the base within said flanges, a water drainage. pan disposed upon lthe base between said body walls, outwardly swinging doors mounted above the other marginal-edge of the base and hingedly connected to the opposed body walls, said' doors aifordingaccess to the intewhereby said pan may separators arranged withinthc box rior of the box to permit of the removal of the drainage pan in a lateral direction from the base, and means surrounding the body walls and including parts having detachable engagement with the doors to retain the latter in their closed positions against ontward pressure of the material thereon.

17. A press box including a base having water drainage means, body walls on the marginal edges of said base, and spaced separators arranged within the box between the walls thereof, each separator embodying a frame structure having a reticulated fabric covering.`

18. A press box including a base having spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls on `the marginal edges of raid base, and spaced separators arranged within the box above the respective series of openings in .the base, each separator embodying a frame structure and a foraminous wall secured upon said frame structure.

19. A press box including a base having spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls on the marginalA edges of said base,

spaced separators-arranged within the box and extending in parallel relation between the opposite walls thereof, 'and means to prevent relative movement of the separators under the pressure of'the material thereon.`

20. A .press box including a base provided with spaced series of waterontlet openings, body walls mounted upon the marginal edges of the base, one of said walls consisting of outwardly swinging doors, spaced separators arranged within the box above the respective series of water.` outlet openings in the base, and adjustable means to tightly clamp the doors and thc opposed body walls of the box against the relatively opposite ends ofthe separators.

21. A press box including with spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls mountedn upon the marginal edges of the base, one of said walls consisting of outwardly swinging doors, spaced above the respective series of water outlet openings in the base, and adjustable tie rods extending through certain of the separators and connecting said doors 4to the opposite body wall of the box to clamp the doors and the body walls against the relatively opposite ends of the separators.

22. A press box including a base provided with spaced series of water outlet openings. body walls mounted upon the marginal edges of the base, one of said walls consistving of outwardly swinging doors, spaced separators arrangedwithin the box above the respective series of water` outlet openings in the base,and adjustable tie rods extendingthrough certain of the separators and connecting said doors to the oppositie body wall of the box toclamp the doors and a base provided body walls againstl the relatively opposite ends of the separators, and means extending between the other opposed walls of the box and between the separators to hold the latter in spaced relation and against relative lateral movement.

23. A press box including a base having spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls on the marginal edges of said base, spaced separators arranged within the box between the walls thereof, each separator embodying a foramineus wall, and sustaining means therefor, and means for preventing the relative movement of the separators under the pressure of the material.

24. A press box including a base having spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls on the marginal edges of said base, spaced separators arranged within the box between the walls thereof above the respective series of openings in said base, each separator embodying a frame structure and a foraminous wall secured thereon, and spacing means extending between the opposed side walls of the box to prevent relative movement of the separators under. the pressure of the material. i i

25. A press box including a base provided with water drainage means, body walls mounted upon the marginal edges of said base, one of said walls consisting of outwardly swinging doors, spaced separators arranged within the box, and means for clamping said doors and the opposed box wall against the relatively opposite ends of the separators.

26. A press box including a base provided with spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls mounted upon the marginal edges of the base, spaced foraminous separators arranged within the box above the respective series of water outlet openings in the base, and means for clamping the opposed box walls against the relatively opposite ends of the separators to retain the same in position above the outlet openings and prevent relative movement of the separators under the pressure of the material.

27. A press box including a base provided with spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls mounted upon the marginal edges of the base, one of said walls consisting of outwardly swinging doors, spaced foraminous separators arranged within the box above the respective series of water outlet 'openings in the base, and means for clamping said doors and the opposed box wall against the relatively opposite ends of the separators to retain the separators in position above the water outlet openings.

28. A press box including a base provided with spaced series of water outlet openings, body walls mounted upon the longitudinal edges of the base, one of said walls consisting of outwardly swinging doors, spaced foraminous separators arranged within the box above the respective series of water outlet openings in the base, and tie rods removably engaged through the doors and the opposed body wall of the box to clamp the doors and body wall against the relatively opposite ends of the separators and retain thelatterin position above the water outlet openings.`

29. A press box including a base provided with water drainage means, body walls mounted upon the marginal edges of the base, spaced Vseparators arranged within the box and each having spaced foraminous walls, and adjustable means connecting the opposed box walls and extending longitudinally between the spaced walls of certain of the separators to clamp said box walls againstithe relatively opposite ends of the separators and hold the latter against relative movement under the pressure of the material. v

30. A press box including a base provided with water drainage means, body walls mounted upon the marginal edges of the base, spaced separators arranged within the box, and adjustable tie rods extendingV through certain of the separators and connecting the opposed body walls of the box to clamp said walls against the relatively opposite ends of the separators and hold the latter against relative movement under the pressure of the material.

31. A press boxincluding body walls and means for sustaining the Walls in assembled relation, means arranged within the box t'o effect the separation of the water from the material in the compression of the latter, said box having an outwardly swinging door in one wall thereof, and removable tie rods connecting said door to the opposite body wall of the box to hold the door closed against the pressure of the material.

32. A press box including body walls, removablemeans adapted to surround said body walls and sustain the same in assembled relation, spaced separators arranged within the box between the walls thereof, an outwardly swinging door in one of the box walls, and means connecting said door to the opposed box wall to prevent opening movement of the door under the pressure of the materialand also operating to clamp the door and said box wall against the separators and thereby hold the latter against relative movement.

33. A press box including upper and lower box sections, removable means surrounding the box sections to sustain the walls thereof in assembled relation, doors slidably mounted. upon the upper box section adapted to be engaged by the press plunger and progressively moved downwardly as the material is compressed'within the box, an additional 'door in one of the walls of the lower boX section affording access to the interior of the box, and removable means connecting said latter door to the opposed wall of the box and holding the door closed against the pressure of the material. Y,

34. A press box including imperforate body walls, removable means adapted to be engaged around the body walls to sustain the same in assembled position against the outward pressure of the material within the boX, and foraminous separators permanently carried by the box walls and through which the liquid is expressed in the compression of the material within the boX.

35. A press boX including a base having water drainage openings therein, imperforate body walls disposed upon the marginal edges of the base, removable means to sustain the body walls in assembled position against the outward pressure of the material, frames secured upon the inner faces of cer- -tain of: the body walls, and a foraminous covering secured upon each frame and through which the liquid is expressed and directed to the drainage openings as the material is compressed within the boX.

In testimony whereof l hereunto aix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. VILLIAM J. FITZGERALD. Witnesses:

PATRICK I. DEVANEY, WM. H. Moran.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, D. C. 

